Meaning
Erosion is a noun that refers to the gradual wearing away, weakening, or destruction of something, usually by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice. It can also describe the slow loss of something abstract, such as trust, confidence, or power.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: noun
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Common sentence patterns:
- Erosion of + noun (e.g., erosion of soil, erosion of confidence)
- Cause of erosion (e.g., rainfall causes erosion)
Common Phrases
- soil erosion – the wearing away of topsoil by water or wind
- coastal erosion – the gradual loss of land along the shore
- erosion of trust – the weakening of confidence between people
- erosion of democracy – the weakening of democratic systems
Collocations
- noun + erosion: soil erosion, coastal erosion, land erosion, tooth erosion
- verb + erosion: cause erosion, prevent erosion, reduce erosion, suffer erosion
- erosion + of + noun: erosion of authority, erosion of values, erosion of support
Examples
- Heavy rainfall caused severe soil erosion in the farmland.
- Coastal towns are facing erosion due to rising sea levels.
- The politician’s scandal led to an erosion of public trust.
- Farmers are planting trees to prevent further erosion.
- The constant waves accelerate the erosion of the cliffs.
- Economic instability led to the erosion of consumer confidence.
- Without protection, monuments may suffer from wind erosion.
- The dentist warned about tooth erosion from sugary drinks.
Synonyms or Related
- wearing away
- disintegration
- deterioration
- weakening
- weathering
- decay